Article Contributed on: 10/26/2009 9:33:41 AM
Elementary school went extreme for annual Dad & Me Breakfast
Dads cleared their schedules and located their helmets for the annual Dad and Me Breakfast "Thrills, Spills and Chills," at High Plains Elementary on October 16. The tenth annual event was sponsored by the PTCO and celebrated extreme sports, including race cars, skiing, snowboarding, break dancing, and an obstacle course.
More than 700 extreme sports fans lined up for "bugs and grub" in the Survivor-themed cafeteria and participated in a series of extreme sport related activities. Second grader, Joshua Staut, touched the hearts of the community by bringing a cardboard cut out of his father, Greg Staut, a Lt. Colonel in the US. Air Force stationed in Iraq.
Each year volunteers transform every area of the school to reflect the theme. This year the attendees were greeted by the High Plains pit crew who revved the engine on a 1984 Monte Carlo race car from Bandimere Speedway. They also met the car's owner, race car driver Phil Bish, the 2006 Rocky Mountain News Driver of the Year.
Volunteers ushered participants onto the track that carried them to all their extreme destinations, including an obstacle course in the gym, "extreme experiments" in the science lab, graffiti murals in the art room, street drums in the music room and a snow capped photo with dad outside the "winter X-games" media center.
In addition to the Bandimere Speedway driver, the High Plains community featured the members of the Denver Roller Dolls roller derby team, percussion expert, Mike Hall, and hip hop/break dancers from Streetside South. All of the entertainers volunteered their time for the event.
To prepare for the day, the students wrote essays to their mentors to be placed on their classroom desks as a special surprise for their dad or mentor. The teachers got involved in the theme by incorporating it within their curriculum and suiting up to accompany solo players.
"I can't believe how excited the kids are for this," said High Plains Principal, Lisa Morris, who praised the PTCO for leading an event that has become legendary in the High Plains community.
"Veteran dads and kids look forward to the event all year long and it's a special joy to watch new parents and kindergartners roam the halls" said Dad and Me Event Co-Chair, Lisa Gunderson, who chaired her ninth and final breakfast. Her youngest daughter, Adelaide, will move on to middle school next year. Gunderson and her event co-chairs have a deep bench of volunteers who decorate, plan and staff for the big day months in advance.
"I will miss the camaraderie with other parents. High Plains is a wonderful community," Gunderson said. She and fellow event chairs dress the part each year. This year, they dressed as members of the Denver Roller Dolls. "We looked pretty tough for the event and now we need some post game rest," said Gunderson.
Many local businesses helped to make the fun event affordable for all students, according to Gunderson. Panera donated all the coffee and Catering by Design donated all the food. Other significant contributions were been made by area adventure retailers: Sky Venture Indoor Skydiving, Little Monkey Bizness, Underwater Phantaseas, Wildlife Experience, The Track, Denver Drums, Bandimere Speedway, Jump Street, Laser Quest, Swis Tire and Automotive, The Track, Home Depot, and the Denver Roller Dolls.
High Plains Elementary is a Cherry Creek Public School located at 6100 S. Fulton St. in unincorporated Arapahoe County.
Julie Huun is the mother of a fourth grader at High Plains Elementary.